Blizzard Trademarks "Warlords of Draenor" - WoW Expansion
Blizzard just trademarked "Warlords of Draenor" in New Zealand. It was then registered in Australia shortly after.

Computer game software, computer game discs, downloadable computer game software, computer game software downloadable from a global computer network, interactive multimedia computer game program; downloadable electronic game software for use on portable electronic devices such as mobile and cellular phones, laptops, handheld computers, and tablet PCs.

Entertainment services, namely, providing on-line computer games; providing on-line non-downloadable computer games that may be accessed via a global computer network; providing online news and information in the field of computer games.

I do realize that we had a lot of fun times with trademarks in the past (*cough* Dark Below *cough*) but let's just say that on a personal level I'm pretty confident about this one. I'll leave the speculation up to you guys until Blizzcon.

Hmmm... That IS an interesting theory though, how maybe Warlords of Draenor could be the next Warcaft RTS. They could show us more of the orcs, maybe post WC2 to explain what happened to Alleria and Turalyon. Like, an in-between of WC2 and WC3!

Nope. Product would be named Warcraft IV: Warlords of Draenor in that case. Not simply Warlords of Draenor, as it actually is.

Adoxe
- 2013-11-02

Originally Posted by Humle

Nope. Product would be named Warcraft IV: Warlords of Draenor in that case. Not simply Warlords of Draenor, as it actually is.

Incorrect. It would be only "Warlords of Draenor" or yet another "Warcraft" trademark, the past Warcraft expansions were trademarked as such.

Corny titles such as Cataclysm are bad imo. Warlords of Dreanor is probably one of the best titles for an expansion to date. (Except for Legacy of the Void wich still holds the crown)

Don't get your knickers in a twist... Sounds more like a Guild name than an expansion....

Rocketbear
- 2013-11-02

Originally Posted by Humle

Nope. Product would be named Warcraft IV: Warlords of Draenor in that case. Not simply Warlords of Draenor, as it actually is.

Let's be real here, Draenor is a wasteland, ever since it's destruction, what has been left of it has been called Outlands ever since. Naming an expansion "Warlords of Draneor" when:
1. Draenor technically doesn't exist anymore
2. What warlords could there be at this very moment in Outlands? Not very many.
Perhaps this is the burning legion expansion we've been hoping for, but consider this, the prophecies foretold by Wrathion are about the Burning Legion invading Azeroth. In order to stop that we need to travel to their home planet and invade them first, which is a ridiculous notion. Besides, what is there on Outlands for the Burning Legion now? It doesn't make sense they'd set up base of operations there of all places.

A time travel expansion, dear lord no. That's a horrible idea and would further disintegrate the story line. We are already dealing with a world where the story on the Azeroth mainland is ahead of the expansion's. So we now have to tell ourselves that the Northrend we see and the Outland we see today are us traveling back in time to experience those events, which is bloody ridiculous.

While a revamp of Outlands would be a nice and welcome feature, it'd result in them overfocusing on that part of the gme that a minority of the playerbase will actually see, and thus we'd again have a severe lack in content development post Pandaria. (leveling zones, dungeons, raids, pvp, etc) like we had in Cataclysm. Cataclysm's launch was good, don't get me wrong, but you cannot deny that the amount of new zones was lackluster and there was a certain lack of cohesion.
While they could fix this in this expansion by offering us another shard or island of the planet which was previously known as Draenor floating around in the Twisting Nether close to current Outlands that is intended for the 90+ players and revamp old Outlands in the meanwhile.

I'm fully aware we already saw a part of that story line from Thrall's perspective from WC3, TBC and other media. And let's be honest here, that's not a lot we know. What I would like to see is that we see a complete separate title by the name of "Warlords of Draenor" that stands apart from WoW, but is still part of the franchise. It'd essentially tell us the story from before Draenei's arrival on Draenor until the invasion of Azeroth.
Also, past Warcraft subtitles have always been trademarked on their own, rather than have the full title. It saves Blizzard a lot of money to have "World of Warcraft" "Warcraft" and any subsequent titles trademarked seperately. Else they'd have to trademark the name "Warcraft" every single time they decide to make a game within that franchise.
Considering the name, it could also be related to Hearthstone. It's subtitle is "Heroes of Warcraft", "Warlords of Draenor" fits better there than an actual expansion title for WoW. As people said in the past, it's more of a bloody guild name.

Crookids
- 2013-11-02

Originally Posted by Rocketbear

Let's be real here, Draenor is a wasteland, ever since it's destruction, what has been left of it has been called Outlands ever since. Naming an expansion "Warlords of Draneor" when:
1. Draenor technically doesn't exist anymore
2. What warlords could there be at this very moment in Outlands? Not very many.
Perhaps this is the burning legion expansion we've been hoping for, but consider this, the prophecies foretold by Wrathion are about the Burning Legion invading Azeroth. In order to stop that we need to travel to their home planet and invade them first, which is a ridiculous notion. Besides, what is there on Outlands for the Burning Legion now? It doesn't make sense they'd set up base of operations there of all places.

A time travel expansion, dear lord no. That's a horrible idea and would further disintegrate the story line. We are already dealing with a world where the story on the Azeroth mainland is ahead of the expansion's. So we now have to tell ourselves that the Northrend we see and the Outland we see today are us traveling back in time to experience those events, which is bloody ridiculous.

While a revamp of Outlands would be a nice and welcome feature, it'd result in them overfocusing on that part of the gme that a minority of the playerbase will actually see, and thus we'd again have a severe lack in content development post Pandaria. (leveling zones, dungeons, raids, pvp, etc) like we had in Cataclysm. Cataclysm's launch was good, don't get me wrong, but you cannot deny that the amount of new zones was lackluster and there was a certain lack of cohesion.
While they could fix this in this expansion by offering us another shard or island of the planet which was previously known as Draenor floating around in the Twisting Nether close to current Outlands that is intended for the 90+ players and revamp old Outlands in the meanwhile.

I'm fully aware we already saw a part of that story line from Thrall's perspective from WC3, TBC and other media. And let's be honest here, that's not a lot we know. What I would like to see is that we see a complete separate title by the name of "Warlords of Draenor" that stands apart from WoW, but is still part of the franchise. It'd essentially tell us the story from before Draenei's arrival on Draenor until the invasion of Azeroth.
Also, past Warcraft subtitles have always been trademarked on their own, rather than have the full title. It saves Blizzard a lot of money to have "World of Warcraft" "Warcraft" and any subsequent titles trademarked seperately. Else they'd have to trademark the name "Warcraft" every single time they decide to make a game within that franchise.
Considering the name, it could also be related to Hearthstone. It's subtitle is "Heroes of Warcraft", "Warlords of Draenor" fits better there than an actual expansion title for WoW. As people said in the past, it's more of a bloody guild name.

I've read you post and I approve this message.

Ondonnick
- 2013-11-02

Why is time travel such a deal breaker for some? We have done it before with Caverns of Time and even fighting Deathwing was to prevent an undesirable timeline. The Bronze dragonflight are the Wardens of Azeroths timelines. Time manipulation and alternate realities have been apart of WoW since the beginning. The development team has been working on this story for years and the story after this one too.

It's funny to read posts from people claiming to know it all, "hurr durrr itsa hearthstone xpac!!" , "hai guizz I know da truff , its WC4!!!" , "timetravel hurts my brain, it no make sense!!" when the truth is it's all speculation. I have faith in Blizzard that whatever it is will be good. They have been working on their story for a long time and probably know what makes sense to their story than anyone on this forum does. I will enjoy the forum drama this week and next too once the truth is revealed. It's half the fun of Blizzcon.

On a side note, I love reading all the fan theories of what will come next. They are like alternate realities in themselves. It would be cool to have a fan fiction What If? lore contest . People can write what they would do next for WoW lore and the rest of us can judge who had the best story or closest to the truth, etc. Would love to read everyone's ideas. Maybe a contest?

Sylreick
- 2013-11-02

Originally Posted by Rocketbear

Let's be real here, Draenor is a wasteland, ever since it's destruction, what has been left of it has been called Outlands ever since. Naming an expansion "Warlords of Draneor" when:
1. Draenor technically doesn't exist anymore
2. What warlords could there be at this very moment in Outlands? Not very many.
Perhaps this is the burning legion expansion we've been hoping for, but consider this, the prophecies foretold by Wrathion are about the Burning Legion invading Azeroth. In order to stop that we need to travel to their home planet and invade them first, which is a ridiculous notion. Besides, what is there on Outlands for the Burning Legion now? It doesn't make sense they'd set up base of operations there of all places.

1. Draenor obviously exists AS outland, and could very well have other chunks of the planet that managed to stay somewhat intact after the explosion like the current zones.
2. Warlords can be many people, if it truly is set in the past, that would mean Orcish warlords (and I think this is kind of unlikely). If it is present day, it could be anything from the left over orcish clans (including the warsong clan) to demons that have been arriving during the time of us dealing with events on Azeroth.

As for the name of the expansion, do you honestly believe "the burning crusade" was any better a title? Sounds more like a genital rash. Warlords of Draenor would be a fine expansion. Also, to all the people trying to convince themselves that the title doesn't necessarily mean it will take place ON Draenor, how is Warlords OF Draenor any different than Mists OF Pandaria.

I don't think time travel as an overall theme of the expansion is likely (it is possible, so I won't completely discount it), but it would be more likely that it is set in post-cata/mop outland or some other surviving chunk of the planet.

We all can dislike ideas, but to say that they are false is to be ignorant as we haven't gotten confirmation from the horses mouth.

ringpriest
- 2013-11-02

Originally Posted by Ondonnick

Why is time travel such a deal breaker for some? We have done it before with Caverns of Time and even fighting Deathwing was to prevent an undesirable timeline. The Bronze dragonflight are the Wardens of Azeroths timelines. Time manipulation and alternate realities have been apart of WoW since the beginning. The development team has been working on this story for years and the story after this one too.

For me, time travel (as a core theme of the expansion) would be a deal breaker for a couple of reasons. First, like some people feel about underwater stuff, I feel about timey-wimey stuff. A little is fun, but a whole expac, or even a whole zone, is too much for me. Secondly, and far more importantly, after watching what happened with Cataclysm, I sincerely doubt that Blizzard has the ability to keep a time-traveling expansion coherent - I think it would be a disaster.

Zylos
- 2013-11-02

Very interesting concept. It seems the title leaves a lot of mystery but as usual people are quick to speculate that its a cataclysm-esque revamp of Outland or it involves time travel. Patience people...only 1 week to go before we find out the truth.

dbnerd
- 2013-11-02

This isn't the wow expansion. Trademark includes specific porting to portable devices. This is something for Hearthstone.

Chipper
- 2013-11-02

"Nobody has seen Alleria or Turalyon in years."

Cuzzin
- 2013-11-02

A Have a question for anyone who can answer them. In the past for wrath,cata,and mop. Where there ever trademark posts like this one with the real expansion, I mean couldnt they just hide them and make them not accessible to the public? Also has ANYONE ever made a speculation post that was acually right? I just remeber years of reading speculation post on expacs but every damn time one came out i dodnt know what it was gunna be b4 that.

achrius777
- 2013-11-02

Its VERY simple as to what this expansion, if this is truly the expansion, is about. The warlords of the Draenor is quite simply refering to the leaders of the Burning legion. Its a known fact that eventually Sargeas was going to come to take azeroth himself and burn the whole world ( wratharion specifically states that a force is coming to azeroth to destroy us) So "Warlords of Draenor" as the expansion name would make perfect sense. but overall we will find out at blizzcon where the truth really lies.

lambey
- 2013-11-02

achrius it makes NO sense.
Sargeras has almost no links to draenor. nor the burning legion. the closest link was illidan who abandoned them.

Aeluron Lightsong
- 2013-11-02

Originally Posted by lambey

achrius it makes NO sense.
Sargeras has almost no links to draenor. nor the burning legion. the closest link was illidan who abandoned them.

Yes it actually does. It may not have anything to do with Sargeras but the warlords of Draenor WAS the Burning Legion. They corrupted the Orcs, they turned the Orcs against the Draenei. They pawned the orcs into invading Azeroth.

lambey
- 2013-11-02

the warlords of draenor would lead to the likes of Gul'Dan more so than the legion.

personally i think it fits more with Hearthstone. "Heroes of Warcraft" and "Warlords of Draenor" sound similar. the Dark Below sounds more likely for WoW for Azshara and N'Zoth, leading to more about the emerald dream / nightmare and the titans / old gods.

Lumennon
- 2013-11-02

Outland. Not "the Outlands". Sorry.

Aeluron Lightsong
- 2013-11-02

Garrosh is just Grom 2.0 with the Sha/Old God possessing/corrupting him

He wasn't corrupted like at all.

Aeluron Lightsong
- 2013-11-02

Originally Posted by darkest4

Nitpick all you want, Garrosh was basically a shitty clone of Grom either way and would make a redundant main villain.

I wasn't nitpicking. He wasn't corrupted at all. Garrosh was just bad all on his own. Don't get upset because you got called out on being wrong.